Chapter 433: Ending the Second Civil War
"If you're that unhappy, we can go outside and settle this with a fight," Carol said, her hands practically itching for action.
"If you agree not to use that freakish super-strength, I'll certainly take you up on that," Tony countered, using a bit of reverse psychology. Tony wasn't just a man in a suit; he had spent years training in various forms of hand-to-hand combat.
"No. My strength is part of who I am. Why shouldn't I use it?" Carol retorted. Tony's attitude reminded her of a certain someone—both were equally punchable.
"Alright, let's stop the bickering," Silas stepped in as the mediator.
Nick Fury remained silent. He didn't mind the friction between Carol and Tony; in fact, he preferred it. If they became too close, he felt it would upset the delicate balance of power he worked so hard to maintain.
"We don't need to discuss the 'Great Being.' When the time is right, he will appear before you," Genji said, neatly sidestepping the question of his creator. Neither Fury nor Tony pushed the issue further.
"You say you stand for peace?" Fury asked again, seeking clarification.
"Yes. I stand for peace. But I am not like Ultron. His vision of peace was extreme," Genji explained. "Eliminating all biological life might result in a quiet world, but it is achieved through slaughter. That is not peace."
The Avengers lowered their heads in thought. From Genji's words, it seemed he was philosophically aligned with them.
"Don't misunderstand. I don't stand with you; I only stand with peace," Genji added, maintaining his carefully crafted persona.
"Any more questions?" Genji didn't want to linger. Given the choice, he'd rather be back in the lab researching new technology.
"None for now. However, we will need to examine the Mind Stone in your forehead later," Fury stated.
"Since everything seems settled, I should be heading back," Thor said, standing up. His people still needed him.
"Right—speaking of which, how did our God of Thunder end up back on Earth so suddenly?" Fury asked, finally addressing Thor's arrival.
Thor didn't hold back, recounting the events of Ragnarok. It wasn't exactly a secret he needed to keep.
"Ragnarok... like the one from the myths?" Fury raised an eyebrow.
"The name is the same, but the reality was quite different," Thor noted. He had read Earth's books on Norse mythology—translated for him once by Jane—and they didn't quite capture the grim reality.
"How are you going to get back? You used to say you needed the Bifrost to return to Asgard," Tony asked.
"Don't worry. The 'Mysterious Man' who sent me here to help provided a way back." Thor pulled a small, round iron sphere from his pocket, engraved with intricate, glowing patterns.
"You're trusting that little gadget? What if he lied to you?" Natasha asked, skeptical. To her, trusting a nameless stranger was a rookie mistake.
"I trust him. He saved the last embers of Asgard," Thor said firmly. Without the Mysterious Man, Hela would have killed him, and no one would have survived the destruction of Asgard.
"Can I take a look at that?" Tony asked, his scientific curiosity piqued by the interstellar travel device.
"Catch." Thor tossed the sphere to Tony.
Tony caught it deftly. "If I break this, you're stuck here, you know."
"It's fine. He told me that crushing the sphere is exactly how I trigger the return trip," Thor said, scratching his nose.
Tony nodded, examining the object before handing it to his nearby Iron Man suit. Inside the armor, JARVIS immediately began an analysis.
"Unknown metal. Contains an unidentified energy source," JARVIS reported.
"You know, JARVIS, sometimes I really want to uninstall you," Tony muttered, feeling a bit embarrassed that his tech couldn't crack the mystery in front of everyone.
"Sir, as my programming was designed by you, perhaps you should reflect on that yourself," JARVIS countered.
"Did I program that sass too?" Tony asked, exasperated.
"Yes, sir." JARVIS returned the sphere to Tony, who threw it back to Thor.
Thor caught the sphere and gave a nod to the room. "Then I'll take my leave."
"Safe travels, Point Break," Tony waved.
Thor rolled his eyes. "Honestly, that nickname is terrible." With a firm grip, he crushed the sphere. Crank!
The sphere shattered, and the energy within erupted in a blinding flash of light. Everyone shielded their eyes. When the light faded, Thor was gone.
"Just like that?" Tony mused, rubbing his chin. He couldn't even begin to fathom the mechanics of that teleportation.
"Alright, everyone. The matter is concluded for now. However, we still need to conduct those tests, Mr. Genji." Fury made a gesture for Genji to follow him. Genji stood and complied.
Tony watched them go but didn't interfere. He was happy to let Fury deal with the paperwork and diagnostics. Carol gave Silas a fierce glare before following Fury; as soon as the stone was verified, she planned to leave Earth.
Silas ignored her look. He sat next to Tony, completely unconcerned. He had total confidence that Fury's tests wouldn't reveal anything he didn't want them to.
"Aren't you going to watch the tests?" Silas asked Tony.
"No need. The cyclops has his ways," Tony replied.
Silas checked the time on his wrist. "It's getting late. Peter's probably worried. I'm heading out."
A swirl of black mist appeared behind Silas, forming a spiral vortex that slowly swallowed him before vanishing entirely.
"Wait!" Pietro called out, but Silas was already gone. He had been hoping for a ride.
"I have a car outside. I'll drop you two off," Tony offered.
"Thanks," Pietro sighed in relief. He didn't want to be Wanda's manual labor for the trip back; he was exhausted from all the running. Wanda and Pietro followed Tony out.
"I'll be heading out too," Sam Wilson said, sensing the room needed to be cleared of non-essential personnel.
Once the others had left, only the original Avengers remained.
"The atmosphere is a little weird, isn't it?" Clint noted.
"Tony, about what happened before..." Steve started, trying to take the initiative. He knew Tony wouldn't be the one to start the conversation.
"The situation is over. Thanks for the backup. See you around," Tony interrupted, turning to leave before Steve could finish. He didn't give the Captain a chance to speak, leaving Steve feeling a mixture of frustration and guilt.
"Don't worry, Cap. You know how Stark is," Natasha said, patting Steve's shoulder. Steve nodded, feeling slightly better.
"After this, I think I'm actually going to retire for real," Clint said, picking up his bow with a self-deprecating smile.
"Why?" Steve asked.
Clint adjusted his gear. "Maybe Banner has the right idea. Don't call me next time." He was serious this time. He left his bow and his communicator on the conference table.
"Clint..." Natasha's voice was soft.
Clint smiled at her and turned away. He had a wife and children waiting for him; that was where he belonged.
"People drift apart, but we always find our way back together eventually. Like today," Steve said with a small smile.
Natasha returned the smile. "True. I should get back to my own spy work. See you around, Captain." She waved and walked away.
Soon, Steve was the only one left in the vast briefing room.
"Captain, there is something Mr. Stark asked me to give to you."
JARVIS's voice broke the silence. A compartment in the table opened, and a brand-new, vibranium circular shield slowly rose into view.
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